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Fitting the Worker to the Workplace with Proper Ergonomics

Ergonomics is the study of the workplace to improve the safety, comfort, ease of use, productivity and performance of the workplace. NIOSH (the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) reports that manual material handling work contributes to a large percentage of the over half a million cases of musculoskeletal disorders reported annually in the United States.

The proper design of equipment’s levers and other manual controls is a key aspect in increasing performance while limiting injuries. Poor ergonomics will also fatigue workers and reduce productivity over the length of a shift. These little pieces of larger machinery really do make a long lasting difference in long term productivity and injury rates and that merits another look into their implementation. Reid Supply offers a vast line of manual controls that fit into a sound ergonomic plan.

Physical Ergonomics

The intelligent design of knobs, handles, and manual controls falls under the ergonomic category of physical ergonomics. The focus here is to relate proper human posture and movement to relevant work tasks. Simply put, the goal is to allow workers to perform their job without unnecessary strain in order to prevent injuries and repetitive motion disorders, like carpal tunnel syndrome.

A typical arrangement under this scheme would be to have all of a machine’s manual controls at the most accessible part of the machine, which would usually be the front. Often, machines tend to put these items on the sides or rear of a machine while materials are fed into the front along with the display screens. Having to reach around a machine, or twist the body around other parts into an unnatural position, and then having to wrench a handle will put extra strain on the body that is not needed.

Even for easier tasks where strain is not an issue, having inaccessible manual controls can still pose health issues. Having a hand wheel, for instance, below waist level will force a worker to bend over to turn it. Doing this day in and day out will eventually lead to lower back problems. The same can be said of knobs placed too high, reaching over head will also cause problems on joints and muscles.

Stress on the body will accumulate over time. Small improvements today will prevent long term injuries in years to come.

User-Friendly Controls

Control design is sometimes thought of as an art as much as it is a science. Design work done with a CAD drawing is usually missing aesthetics, or the human element. When the machine’s manual controls are actually laid out, poor design choices can be sometimes seen as knobs placed in an awkward position relative to the machine’s place in the work space or labels or switches placed nearby that look too similar. One way to tackle these problems is to incorporate user and worker input into the design.

The people who are running the machines daily will pick up on problems and think of helpful tips as they become intimately familiar with that machine. This typically happens at the proto-type stage, but it works extremely well for machines already in use. Criticism on control knob layout can improve future models, and changes can be made when machines are taken down for preventative maintenance.

Cognitive Ergonomics

Beyond preventing injuries, ergonomics looks to also improve productivity by making equipment easier to use physically and that makes them more intuitive to run. Manual controls that are easy to learn and use will make machinery run more smoothly and help prevent shutdowns and excessive maintenance. Poorly designed control systems will frustrate its users and possibly lead to injury.

This field of study can also be called cognitive ergonomics and it focuses on improving how humans interact with machines beyond just the physical. Machinery needs to have a sort of logic to its control system as well as having emergency controls within easy reach. During an emergency situation, workers need to be able to quickly access emergency controls such as flow control knobs or power shutoffs. It pays to place these controls in their own area on an easily accessed part of the machine on a red-colored area. In addition to finding them easily, they will also not be accidently pushed if they are sitting next to the regular controls. Layman, firefighters and EMTs can push the giant red button labeled “emergency shutoff” without any prior training.

It is wise for manufacturers to partner with a knowledgeable supplier of industrial manual controls like Reid Supply. They have deep experience with multiple control components and offer a wide range of products. Ergonomic design is about finding the ideal controls, not something that is "close enough". Reid Supply’s extensive stock of industrial knobs, industrial handles, industrial hand wheels, industrial levers and industrial grips provide that perfect partnership. Call Reid Supply or go to ReidSupply.com to learn more about manual controls.

Proper Workholding Systems: Prevent Injury and Increase Productivity

Workplace safety can hinge on proper workholding solutions being implemented at your facility. Material handling is one of the major contributors to work injuries. When workholding devices fail, both men and machines may suffer. Industrial equipment needs to be kept in top working order and must be used within its design parameters. Reid Supply Company offers an extensive variety of industrial products to set up and maintain proper workholding systems.

Workholding Devices Provide Machining Precision and Prevent Movement

Workholding refers to tools and devices that hold materials fast while they are being machined. Precision machine work is reliant upon a steady work surface and steady metals; otherwise the finished product will not be within the correct tolerance. The degree of accuracy needed is usually on the thousandth of an inch, divide one inch into a thousand parts and you have to be accurate to one of those parts. It might not seem like a big difference, but that tolerance is what keeps an engine running well and not throwing its pistons because of an uncontrolled explosion.

Workholding tools have been around for centuries as the crafts have developed. Blacksmiths used them to secure hot metals to be worked into horseshoes and nails. Jewelers used them to shape previous metals into rings and fittings for jewelry.

The latest advances in computer technology control for machining precision has brought us to today, where machining tolerances are down to thousandths of an inch. The application of such a high degree of accuracy has driven a market where customers are more demanding of their specifications. These tolerances can no longer be met by older industrial clamps. Material precision requires an absolute perfect hold with no movement, not even due to vibrations.

Meeting these demands will ultimately increase a company’s business and market share. A successful operation minimizes wasted materials from off-spec products. Reducing rejects ultimately saves money and production time. Investing in cutting edge solutions and technology is a process improvement that will return its value over time and continue to save costs.

Proper Utilization of Workholding Tools

When industrial clamps are not powerful enough for a given task, workers will often try to improvise a workholding solution, which can lead to serious safety issues and a loss of product quality. Using cheater bars or any other equipment past its design specifications will ultimately lead to material failure and the possibility of damages and injuries. Worker awareness and periodic industrial equipment inventories are necessary to identify what tools are underperforming or inadequate. Based on the results of these evaluations, a company can purchase the best workholding system to suit their specific business needs.

Some applications require less power and a more delicate hold. No matter how steady a worker’s hands may be, they will never be accurate enough for high precision work. Fragile components are easy to break and will lead to material wastage. Reid Supply offers specialized clamps and pneumatic systems for delicate parts that will hold a fragile piece for machining without damaging that part.

Workholding Systems Evaluations and Opportunities

Periodic equipment evaluations are designed to identify future needs. A successful operation should not wait until a production line’s rejection rate starts to climb before they start looking for issues. Workholding devices do not have an unlimited life; proactive and preventative maintenance ensures a smooth operation.

Using the right workholding devices and equipment increases productivity, improves production quality, and provides safety protection for workers. As milling precision demands increase, companies will have to invest in reliable and reusable pneumatic and hydraulic workholding systems and versatile fixturing components to maximize performance required for today’s stringent production needs.

Investments in workholding and industrial products will pay dividends both in immediate performance and long term growth opportunities. Workholding continues to advance and Reid Supply Company stocks the latest technology. Call Reid Supply or go to ReidSupply.com to learn more about workholding solutions that can help your business to succeed.

Spring Plungers and Spring Loaded Devices

Spring plungers, also known as spring loaded devices, consist of a spring that is encapsulated within a threaded housing. They serve the same function as springs -- to provide tension -- but they have a few unique qualities that give them a wide array of usage. Reid Supply offers the following guide for the selection and use of spring plungers.

The Ins and Outs of Spring Plungers

As mentioned above, spring loaded devices enclose a spring within a threaded capsule. This offers the ability to more easily install a spring into tooling components. The casing helps protect the spring within; provides a more accurate spring end force; and guarantees positive and controlled spring tension.

The cylindrical casing of a spring plunger holds the spring fast into position. A locking element, typically made of nylon, holds the plunger body in place. The plunger within the casing extends to activate the spring inside. The spring applies its force evenly and straight into its linear line of motion due to the capsule and plunger setup. The spring’s end force is regulated by the operation of the plunger. The spring will not move laterally, ensuring a long life of reliable operation. The casing allows a safer installation as well since you are not applying tools to a spring, rather to the spring’s casing. Overall, spring loaded devices offer a longer lifetime of efficient and consistent spring action.

Installation of Spring Plungers

When installing a bare spring into tooling components, the process can often be tedious and frustrating. The spring has to be compressed before it can be installed into a tool, this leads to the possibility of the technician damaging a delicate spring during installation from the force of the compression tool. Holding a spring under tension can also pose a safety problem if the spring comes out of its track and strikes the installer in the eye. Losing a spring in this way is also incredibly frustrating.

In a pinch, spring plungers can be installed with the use of a hex key wrench or a screwdriver. Most experts would instead recommend using the proper dedicated spring/ball plunger wrenches. The right tool will help when working with spring loaded devices for the first time and make the job go faster even for an experienced technician. The proper wrench will also avoid accidental damage to the housing or the spring inside.

The only drawback to spring plungers is that they cannot tolerate large torque forces. The body casing is indeed hollow, and although they resemble bolts and screws they cannot take the same torque force as a solid body screw can take. Reid Supply offers manufacturer installation torque limits to prevent plunger breakage.

Some spring loaded devices include a locking element that is designed to compress against the threads of the tapped hole in order to provide maximum locking force. Be wary when using soft, deformable materials as this locking mechanism can damage the tapped hole due to locking pressure. In these applications, the use of a non-locking element spring plunger is recommended. If the locking mechanism is required for the application, slightly larger tap holes can be drilled to reduce the locking pressure. Reid Supply also offers a large selection on materials of construction that includes a locking mechanism that won’t deform softer materials.

Spring Plungers Materials of Construction

Like most industrial products, steel is a popular choice for material construction. It is, of course, a good balance between strength and durability with a lower cost of construction. Carbon steel is commonly case hardened for extra wear resistance. Stainless steel offers corrosion resistance for spring plungers that will operate in moist or corrosive environments or at higher temperatures, all at a reasonable price.

Hard metals can also be a bad choice. Steel, both carbon and stainless, can easily damage or deform softer metals such as copper alloys (brass and bronze) or aluminum. Prolonged deformation can lead to eventual part failure, which can be extremely costly in lost equipment, productivity, and compromised worker safety. These applications would require a different material of construction. Reid Supply offers polymer construction using nylon, Delrin, or phenolic resin. All of these plastics will provide the needed strength and durability without deforming surrounding softer metals.

Vibration Control For Industrial Equipment – Machine and Worker Safety

Worker safety and machinery maintenance are two of the most important considerations in industry. Machine vibrations during operation affect both issues. Industrial equipment suffers long term wear when it is not properly supported against vibrations. The workers operating machinery will also suffer from increased noise levels and possible hearing loss as well. Vibration control is then paramount for ensuring a long operational life for a process’s machinery and the long-term health and welfare of its operators. Ultimately, noise and vibration control are mandatory under federal law in addition to being good business practice.

Unavoidably, all power machinery will vibrate during operation. The proper design and usage of leveling pads, leveling devices, and vibration control, however, will prevent wear and tear from those vibrations. This will save time and money on equipment replacements and production downtime, making it easier to keep up with preventative maintenance.

In addition to the benefit to machinery, worker safety and occupational health is positively affected through vibration control. A machine that is vibrating heavily or "walking" during operation, creates a lot of noise and can lead to permanent hearing loss for its operators. OSHA regulates the maximum permissible sound levels during a working day as well as the maximum allowed sound level. These reasons make it essential for every industry to implement practices and industrial equipment to level machines and reduce vibrations. Healthy workers are more productive, just as well maintained machines are more efficient as well.

Reid Supply offers a long line of industrial equipment for effective vibration control. They make it easy to start an investment for the long-term care of both machinery and worker health. Let us look at some of those benefits.

Occupational Health And Safety

Excessive noise levels will quickly cause permanent hearing loss even if workers are not in immediate pain. Every night that someone goes home with ears ringing is evidence of permanent hearing loss. OSHA defines the acceptable noise levels to prevent hearing damage. There are two categories of harmful sound levels -- an average over an entire shift and a maximum sound level at any given time.

For the typical eight-hour workday, the permissible limit is set at 90 decibels and anything greater than 85 decibels mandates that a hearing conservation program be enacted. 90 decibels is roughly the same noise level that you would hear on a busy city street, while 85 is equivalent to a garbage disposal running. At a level of 115 decibels, hearing loss is instant and permanent. This is the same as a thunderclap or rock concert. Even up to 115 decibels, these sound levels usually do not cause direct pain, so it is imperative that noise levels be controlled before workers complain of ear pain. Otherwise, it may be very much too late.

If the time weight average sound level in a workplace is great than 85 decibels, than a federally mandated hearing conservation program must be implemented. This involves yearly hearing tests, hearing protection training, and a lot of paperwork and government oversight. Or, machinery can be set on leveling devices and have good vibration control to keep the sound level below this threshold. It is obvious that prevention in this case is preferable.

Machinery Lifetime Benefits

Vibrations put stress on industrial equipment and tooling components. Cyclical stress is caused during loading and offloading over a machine’s operating cycle. Even though each individual load is not great enough to break a component, they all add up to eventually cause material failure. In this way, excessive vibrations can cause material failure even when you wouldn’t expect such a small movement to do so. Prevention is the key to long machinery operational lifetimes.

Machinery that is off balance can "walk" across the production floor. Not only is this extremely bad for the equipment, it is also very unsafe for the operators. A machine that uses leveling devices and is properly balanced will stay put. Having level, stable machinery allows greater accuracy in production as well.

Leveling And Vibration Control Methodology

To meet the requirements for permissible sound levels and reap the benefits of improved machinery lifetime, the use of vibration control and leveling devices is recommended. Leveling pads are used to keep machines balanced, especially on an uneven floor or with a machine that is not load balanced. Just like a washing machine, off-balance equipment will shift and vibrate during operation. This is a simple and quick fix that can be easily applied. Vibration pads can also be placed underneath equipment to reduce noise and vibrations by simply absorbing some of that extra energy.

Vibration mounts are a more effective and complex method for vibration control. They act like the shocks in an automobile, in that they offer mechanical or pneumatic dampening to cancel out vibrations. A mechanical vibration mount will utilize high-tension springs to generate an opposing force to steady operating machinery. Pneumatic devices achieve the same effect with the use of compressed gases or liquids. They are highly responsive and extremely sensitive and are suitable for even high precision laboratory work.

With the many solutions Reid Supply makes available for leveling devices and vibration control, there is no excuse to cause unneeded wear on machinery or risk workers’ hearing.

Exploring The Design, Construction & Building of Enclosures

Summary

Enclosures are found in every aspect of construction from residential to utilities, and from stereo systems to electrical boxes. The type of enclosure will dictate what hardware is needed to build them properly. For example, stereo equipment enclosures need to be vibration proof whereas electrical boxes have to prevent electric shock. Knowing what industrial products are best suited for each application is the key to building effective enclosures.

About the Author

Greg Palmer is an author for Reid Supply Company, an industrial products distribution company with a 60-year history supplying customers in all 50 states and over 40 countries with industrial equipment and products such as fasteners, hardware, and free CAD drawings.

An enclosure is the technical term for housing or a covered framing for equipment or machinery. Enclosures are purposely built for their unique applications with different types of hardware. One example is a common sight on roadways, the electrical enclosure. An electrical enclosure houses electrical components for utility companies and the relays and switches for traffic control to protect equipment from the elements. In the home, stereo equipment comes in soundproof enclosures that channel the sound in one direction for better music quality. In the office, security enclosures protect expensive equipment like computer servers and sensitive materials such as patented material. Let us take a look further into each type of enclosure and investigate how industrial products, from fasteners to other hardware, are utilized for each specific design.

Electrical Enclosures

Electrical enclosures are a very common sight. They are seen on the side of roads, at nearly every controlled intersection, and at the end of the block. These enclosures protect a variety of electrical equipment, from the time relays that operate traffic lights to the switches that supply power to homes. Not only do they keep the equipment safe, but they are also meant to keep people safe from electric shock.

The primary purpose of electrical enclosures is to provide protection against the environment, specifically corrosion, for the equipment inside and to prevent electrical shock to people and maintenance personnel. The hardware utilized within electrical enclosures will emphasize corrosion resistance and the outer components will include insulation or non-conductive materials.

Certain materials will resist the corrosion caused by moisture and the elements. Aluminum is a soft metal that has good corrosion resistance and is also non-magnetic. Stainless steel will also perform well like aluminum, but has the added bonus of being extremely impact resistant. In most of these applications, however, stainless steel would be overkill and overpriced. Plastics will resist water damage, but they are typically sensitive to heat, which may cause a problem in an electrical box sitting in direct sunlight during the summer months. Regular carbon steel is always a decent choice due to its low cost and easy handling, but will require more maintenance and painting to keep rust-free.

For insulation, many enclosures can be mounted on and surrounded by wood, this being the simplest application. Rigid plastics are also non-conductive and are often used in the quick release fasteners for opening boxes. Brass heads on fasteners can also be used, as brass can be alloyed to be both corrosion resistant and since it is non-magnetic, will make a good insulating material as well.

Sound Proof Enclosures

In the home, the most commonly seen enclosures are sitting right in front of you on the entertainment system. Stereo components, subwoofers and speakers in particular are housed in enclosures. They perform double duty by protecting electrical equipment, but their main purpose is sound control. Speakers generate sound in all directions, but it is the job of the enclosure to properly direct the sound forward. If the sound waves are not focused towards the listener, sound quality will suffer from echoes and interference.

Sound control is achieved by the use of vibration control in stereo enclosure fasteners and in the housing itself. Materials that act as insulators against electricity will perform the same duty against sound waves. This is why nearly all stereo equipment is housed in wooden or plastic boxes. Inside the box, vibration control is obtained from fasteners and locking screws made of nylon with added washers to hold the hardware in place during operation. These materials will be able to hold up to the intense vibrations from music, TV, and DVDs.

Enclosures For Secure Storage

A third common type of enclosure is the security enclosure. Housing expensive equipment and sensitive documents is a common need among businesses. Security enclosures are built for strength and to resist a concerted effort at a break-in. Typically, expensive electronics like computer servers and valuable documents like industrial patents and accounting information will be stored in such an enclosure.

The obvious need for security enclosures is a high tensile strength. Materials must be resistant to impact and sheering in order to provide a durable structure to secure valuables. In this application, stainless steel is an incredibly potent material that will see a lot of use. Stainless steel can even be case hardened to provide further strength and protection. Carbon steel parts can also be used if they have been case hardened, but the most sensitive materials will undoubtedly utilize stainless. All of the outside fasteners and hardware will be of the highest strength to provide an enclosure without any weak points that can be used to gain entry. Inside the enclosure, less expensive materials can be used to mitigate the cost of large amount of stainless steel.

With the wide variety of industrial products available for use in construction, enclosures have the ability to cover many applications. From high strength secure enclosures, vibration controlled soundproof enclosures and insulted electrical enclosures; the choice of hardware is paramount to meeting design specifications.

Why Monitoring Noise And Vibration Control In Industrial Equipment Is Important

Summary

Powered machinery operates best when it is properly supported to prevent vibrations. Vibration control will also increase the operating life of a piece of industrial equipment, making it a sound investment. Reducing vibrations will also reduce the ambient noise level where machinery is operated. Excessive noise levels are not only dangerous to employees’ health, but are also regulated by OSHA. Leveling devices and other vibration controls will ensure machinery operational life and help comply with federal safety and health regulations.

About the Author

Greg Palmer is an author for Reid Supply Company, an industrial products distribution company with a 60-year history supplying customers in all 50 states and over 40 countries with industrial equipment and products such as fasteners, hardware, and free CAD drawings.

Any powered piece of industrial equipment will vibrate when it is operational. While this fact cannot be avoided, it does present two major problems. Machinery vibrations ultimately break down machine parts, causing wear and tear on nearly every single tooling component. Machine maintenance can become a constant problem if excessive down time is required to service equipment and parts. Preventing excessive movement through vibration control will save maintenance time and money.

In addition to saved machinery, vibration control will also preserve workers’ health. Vibrations not only cause damage to machines, but they create high noise levels. OSHA regulations define laws to limit the average noise level that a worker will encounter in an eight-hour shift as well as the maximum sound level that is permissible. Machinery that is operating with the minimum of excessive vibration will cut down on both the ambient sound level and reduce the maximum sound level present.

For these two very good reasons, examining effective vibration control is a wise investment in both machine and worker health.

Benefits For Machinery

During the operation of powered industrial equipment, vibrations will put stress on each tooling component in a machine. The constant motion, even if it is small or invisible to the naked eye, will cause cyclical stress. This type of stress is characterized by applying a load and then removing said load. Individual loads or stresses might not be enough to damage materials, but repeated low-level stress will eventually become cumulative and cause failure. In this way vibrations cause machine failures when you wouldn’t expect to see high strength components to fail.

In addition to cyclical stress that causes material failure, machines can also "walk" from excessive vibration. When industrial equipment is not set on a level surface, or the machine itself is not balanced, the equipment will actually move during operation. Moving machinery is a small disaster in itself. Keeping the equipment in its place guarantees accurate operation, prevents machines from damaging themselves, and will keep workers safe from being struck by heavy parts.

Worker Health Benefits

OSHA regulates the acceptable noise levels that workers may be exposed to. They break down noise levels into two categories, a time-weighted average over a workday, and a maximum level for any sound, even for just a moment. For an eight-hour day, the permissible limit is 90 decibels and even 85 decibels mandates a hearing conservation program to protect workers’ hearing. To put this in perspective, 85 decibels is equivalent to a garbage disposal or dishwasher running and 90 decibels would be a busy city street. The loudest sound possible that would cause instantaneous permanent hearing loss is 115 decibels, or a thunderclap or loud rock concert. It is not readily apparent how serious and easy it is for hearing loss to occur, but the science behind sound levels has proven that these sounds can cause hearing loss, prompting federal regulation.

There are only two ways to cope with hearing loss from loud machinery. If the sound level in a plant is greater than 85 decibels, then a federally mandated hearing conservation program must be implemented. Hearing conservation programs involve yearly auditory testing, earplug and earmuff use and training, and a lot of paperwork. In order to avoid such an endeavor, the machinery must run on balance and more quietly.

Vibration Control Methods

In order to safeguard equipment and protect the hearing of your workers, vibration control devices can be utilized. One of the methods is to use leveling pads to keep machines on balance. Just like a washing machine, if industrial equipment is running off balance it will shift and vibrate, causing damage and excessive noise. This method is an easy and inexpensive way to correct floors that are not level or machinery that does not have an equal distribution of its weight. Vibration pads can also be used under machinery and will reduce noise by simply absorbing and muffling vibrations.

Other ways to achieve vibration control include the use of vibration mounts. Like the shocks in an automobile, vibration mounts have mechanical or pneumatic dampening effect that will cancel out vibrations by providing an equal and opposite force to the vibration. A mechanical vibration mount will typically consist of a high-tension spring, very similar to a car’s shocks. Pneumatic devices use either compressed air or liquid in order to absorb shock by either filling or emptying a cylinder support.

With the many solutions available to level industrial equipment and dampen vibrations, there is no excuse to cause unneeded wear on machinery or risk workers’ hearing. Even low-level vibrations and sound levels are harmful to both man and machines.

Power Transmission Systems That Drive The Manufacturing Process

At the heart of every industrial process is a power transmission system. Whether it is a mass production operation utilizing conveyor systems or the chemical industry moving liquids and gases with pumps, industry runs only as effective as can apply power to perform work. On the farmlands, power equipment harvests crops and in the supermarket and our homes compressors run the refrigeration units. Even in the office, compressors run air conditioning. The generation, transmission, and use of power is the heart of our modern, industrial lives.

When we speak of power transmission systems, we break them down into sub-systems, starting at motors, then through a drive system with bearings, and finally as useable work. Reid Supply offers an integrated product line for a total design mentality when it comes to the design and construction of effective power transmission systems.

Drive Systems That Deliver Power

Drive systems are used to transfer the energy from a motor and convert it into useable work and linear motion. For example, an electric motor uses electricity to rotate a shaft, so a drive system would transfer that power to a press as linear motion. In a car engine, the power generated by the motor has to be transferred to spin the wheels, so the drive system, or transmission system in a vehicle, moves that power to the wheels.

Drive systems take many forms, from merely moving power from one motor to many machines, or changing cyclical or linear motion into another form. The most simple example would be a direct coupling drive system. This would be seen in a spinning motor shaft that has fan blades welded onto it to push air. A centrifugal pump uses a direct coupling from a shaft to an impeller to pressurize and move liquids. Despite being simple in design, this scheme can only deliver the power from one motor to one machine that is directly attached.

A belt and pulley system is often utilized to move power from a central motor to a workspace farther away, or to multiple pieces of equipment. The first use of this would be in the 18th century with water wheels powering textile looms. The same concept remains today, that is to have a motor turn a pulley with an attached belt that runs to a series of pulleys and bushings all connected to other pieces of process equipment. This setup allows one central motor to power many machines. These systems can also be synchronized such as the timing belt that controls valve openings in a vehicle motor.

Chain systems are commonly seen in manufacturing processes as an effective way to transmit linear motion. These systems are utilized in conveyor systems and allow a motor to apply its energy directly into a usable form by moving a conveyor belt. Ultimately, the choice in drive systems is deeply integrated with the design specifications of each individual process.

The Right Lubrication And Bearings To Maximize Operational Lifetime

When transferring power through a drive system, energy is lost through friction and heat buildup. In order to preserve power and prevent equipment breakdown, lubrication and bearings are utilized for the smooth motion of moving parts. They are the primary method for preserving materials and preventing metal on metal contact that will grind both components to dust. Bearings are typically constructed as two concentric rings filled with ball bearings and a lubricating fluid. Bearings are used to support loads in any direction so they can be used in both rotary and linear motion configurations.

An example of bearings for a linear motion system would be a set of rollers to guide materials along a path. Radial bearings support rotary motion by carrying the load of a shaft perpendicular to the axis of rotation and thrust bearings support parallel loads; both are necessary in motor shafts. Performance designs can also include a lubrication fluid flow through the bearing housing that also provides a cooling effect. Regardless of the application, bearings can be specifically tailored to any process.

Motors In Manufacturing

Motors are seen everywhere in industry and our lives. A motor is the essential piece of equipment that converts power into work. They have the amazing ability to harness electrical power, steam, moving water, or compressed air and perform work. They are the cornerstone of power transmissions systems. Uses for motors are practically endless; they can move air, compress gasses, pressurize and pump liquids, drive assembly lines, power engines and machinery, and run our transportation network over land, sea, and air.

In liquid applications, motors are often used to run centrifugal or positive displacement pumps. These motors accelerate and compress liquids during the manufacturing of oil products, plastics, and to transport water to boilers. For gases, compressors are the main component in refrigeration units and in the natural gas and chemical industries, and come in both reciprocal and rotary types. The manufacturing sector uses the power from pumps to run conveyor belts, assembly lines, and to power machinery. These engines come in electrical, internal combustion, and compressed air varieties.

Overall, all of the components of a power transmission system have to be designed with integration in mind. Motors with the support of bearings and lubrication will drive a system to transfer energy into work. Reid Supply provides industrial equipment for every component in a power transmission system and will work with each client to perform custom design work as well.

Understanding Enclosures From Design To Construction

Enclosures are purpose built housings for equipment, machinery, and industrial products. They are designed to protect equipment from damage and wear from usage, as well as protecting people from the equipment itself. They are commonly seen as the electrical boxes that are found on the side of roads and at controlled intersections. These enclosures are electrical boxes that the utility company uses to house the electrical components of traffic control systems, power transmission, and road monitoring equipment. They can be seen in offices in the form of security boxes that protect important documents and expensive business machines from theft or damage. Enclosures are also seen in nearly every home as well; they house electronic and stereo equipment.

With the wide range of uses for enclosures, a diverse offering of hardware is necessary to build enclosures to meet specification. Reid Supply offers exactly that, an extensive line of industrial products and hardware for any design. In this article, we will look at three different types of enclosures and how specific hardware is used to meet design goals.

Enclosures For Vibration And Sound Control

In each of our homes, enclosures are used right in our living rooms or family rooms. The stereo components, such as speakers and subwoofers, which are attached to a TV, DVD player, or sound system, are all housed in special enclosures. These enclosures are unique in that they not only protect the electrical equipment, but they also improve the sound quality of the speaker system. This is achieved by proper vibration and sound control in each piece of hardware from the housing to the fasteners. The speaker components generate sound waves in all four directions, which can cause echoes and distortions. Soundproof enclosures will direct the sound in only the forward direction and will create a clear, crisp sound without interference from excess hardware vibrations.

This sound direction control is achieved with the use of vibration control hardware, fasteners, and housing materials. Insulating materials will absorb sound waves and are a commonly used material. Many speakers are housed in wood, which is an inexpensive option for sound control. Within the housing, vibration control is achieved from locking screws and fasteners that are made out of nylon, which is a naturally vibration resistant polymer. Locking washers added to fasteners supplies a final layer of sound protection and allows the entire housing to hold up to constant vibrations from your favorite movie, TV show, or CD.

Securing Valuables In Enclosures

A common enclosure type for the business world is the security enclosure. Like the name implies, securing valuables against break-ins is another function that enclosures serve. To accomplish this design goal, these enclosures are built for strength and impact resistance. In this way, they are able to store expensive and valuable items from electronics to documents.

The first property needed is high strength. The materials of construction for a security enclosure will need a high degree of tensile strength and impact resistance to resist forces applied against them. Stainless steel is a popular choice to play this role, as it fulfills both needs and can be case hardened to provide an even greater degree of protection. The relatively high price of stainless is tolerated for this type of enclosure since the items being stored are typically much more expensive or even priceless. You could get away with a case hardened carbon steel housing, but stainless provides that extra layer of security. In the same vein, all of the outside fasteners and hardware will be made of stainless as well. A truly impregnable design might incorporate tungsten alloys as well, but this would probably be only applied in the most extreme circumstances.

Electrical Equipment Enclosures

By far, the most common type of enclosure is the electrical variety. You can spot them on the side of the road for utilities and at every traffic light to control the signals as well as at the end of most streets to house the power transmission equipment for homes. Electrical enclosures are designed to both protect equipment from the elements and people from electric shock.

In order to keep electrical equipment working properly, these enclosures have to provide a barrier against the elements. Corrosion has to be kept to a minimum to prevent the housings from wearing out with time and exposing the electrical potential to either nature or people. In this case, a metal like aluminum has good corrosion resistance and is also non-magnetic. Stainless steel has similar corrosion resistance properties with an added strength characteristic, but will most likely be overpriced for common enclosures. Plastics are another material that will resist water damage, but they are susceptible to degradation from UV rays from sunlight and the high temperatures generated by electrical conduits. Carbon steel is a popular choice, but requires constant maintenance and painting to prevent rust from forming.

While an electrical enclosure prevents the elements from damage the equipment inside, it must also keep electrical shocks from reaching people. Since they are used near pedestrians and roadsides, insulation is required. Many enclosures are often surrounded by or mounted on wood, which is a natural, simple insulator. Rigid plastics are non conductive and are used for the quick release fasteners that hold the enclosure closed. Brass is a good material since it can be alloyed to provide corrosion resistance and is non-magnetic. Therefore, many fastener heads can be made of brass.

Reid Supply carries the wide selection of industrial products that are vital for designing and building enclosures for many applications. From high strength, to corrosion resistance and insulation, Reid Supply provides all the necessary hardware in every type of material.